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In the camp of the Tyroshi reinforcements, two trebuchets, standing forty feet high, loomed over the outskirts of the military tents. They were the most conspicuous structures within the allied camp.
The Tyroshi coalition had transported a vast amount of timber from the south, enough to arm three trebuchets. However, due to time constraints, only two were fully erected.
The Tyroshi reinforcements believed the Andalos defenders were merely turtling up and would be no match for a direct assault.
Thus, they confidently placed the trebuchets on the perimeter, mainly because the stench of the corpses was unbearable.
Mercenaries gingerly moved some decomposing bodies, the stench overwhelming.
In this summer season, the dead rotted easily.
"Our two fine whores," Bloodbeard declared proudly.
Bloodbeard was a loud, savage brute of a man, tall and broad-shouldered, with a fiery red beard and long braid.
Like most mercenary captains, he was cruel by nature, bloodthirsty, greedy for glory and treasure, and lustful.
The trebuchets were named "Dragon Slayer" and "Kiss of the Three-Headed God."
"Must we do this? If this truly brings a plague, how will we sell the Andalos slaves?" asked the Commander-in-Chief of the Tyroshi reinforcements, the elder brother of the Archon of Tyroshi, Greenbeard. Though nominally, he was the commander of this army.
But Bloodbeard had more experience, and his Company of the Cat had more men. So, as the commander of the allied forces, the Tyroshi valued Bloodbeard's opinion highly.
"There is no other way, Commander," Bloodbeard explained. "The city of Andalos is very strong. You saw how the horselords suffered heavy losses beneath its walls. If we want to win, we need to force the Andalos people out of the city."
"You are right, but what if it really causes a bloody flux?"
The bloody flux had been the bane of armies since the Dawn Age. Everyone knew that once it spread silently through the ranks, it would ultimately bring about the annihilation of the entire army.
"It won't," Bloodbeard shook his head. "It's only been a few days, and everything is normal in the White City. It's not time for the bloody flux to run rampant yet; the bodies just smell a bit. Let us enjoy the beauty of victory, countless gold and women. Destroy the hope of Andalos."
"Alright, let's do it," the Tyroshi nodded in satisfaction.
"Then I can witness the moment of glory with my own eyes."
"I believe so, my lord," Bloodbeard replied.
"Good, then I will personally lead a group of men to supervise the trebuchets and get them moving immediately," the Tyroshi Commander-in-Chief said. He was actually somewhat afraid to go onto the battlefield.
Perhaps hiding behind the trebuchets would be safer.
"As you wish," Bloodbeard bowed in reply. "I need to arrange other matters, so I won't accompany you. I need to set up the scorpions and ballistae."
Dragon Slayer and Kiss of the Three-Headed God began to rumble into action. Once they started moving, they would bring new terror to Viserysfort.
The brother of the Archon of Tyrosh seemed to see victory in sight, the spoils of war already calculated.
Atop the walls of Viserysfort, Viserys looked at the two massive trebuchets. In terms of throwing power, they were lacking, but they were perfect for flinging corpses during a siege.
"Your Grace, they might be throwing corpses..." Black Balaq said with a serious expression.
Siege trebuchets were out in the wild outside the city, while the White City's trebuchets had the advantage of height for fire suppression. The Tyroshi trebuchets were at a disadvantage.
This was a more insidious method.
"It was a miscalculation. We should have sortied last night and wiped out the Tyroshi first," Black Balaq said with regret. "The bloody flux and these corpses are disgusting."
This strategic opportunity was lost, but considering the cavalry advantage, charging alongside the horselords might not have been a good idea.
The most troublesome point now was solving the problem of the Tyroshi trebuchets.
"It doesn't matter." Viserys waved his hand.
Black Balaq was surprised, not knowing where the King's confidence came from. The lethality of the plague and the contamination of the corpses were no small matter.
"Get the trebuchets moving, suppress them first," Viserys ordered.
With a rumbling sound, the trebuchets of Viserysfort roared and launched a volley.
"It seems there is no choice." Viserys placed his hand on his sword belt.
Plans never kept up with changes. Originally, Sunblaze's appearance was prepared for Drogo, a brilliant debut.
But now, Sunblaze needed to make an early appearance.
Viserys tapped his fingers on his sword belt as rotting corpses began to fly from the distant horizon.
"I will handle them," Viserys said.
"How?" Black Balaq was suspicious.
But a few moments later, he no longer doubted Viserys's decision.
A thunderous sound came from the sky, the sound of leathery dragon wings beating.
The dragon flew from the hills to Viserys's position, its golden form obscuring the sunlight.
Sunblaze was covered in gold scales, but his eyes, horns, dorsal spines, and wing membranes were a beautiful, dazzling fiery red.
Black Balaq and his archers held their breath, not expecting a new miracle here.
Black Balaq suddenly understood the source of Viserys's confidence. It wasn't just because of the Andalos army or his own strength.
There was also the ultimate trump card: Viserys had a dragon that could soar over the battlefield.
But how was this dragon obtained?
Every archer in the Golden Company had questions.
Viserys vaulted onto the dragon's back. "The magnificent dance is about to begin. Wait a moment."
"Roar!" Sunblaze let out a roar, his silhouette splitting the clouds.
"Boom!"
A stream of searing golden-red dragonfire swept out, instantly melting the two corpses flying in mid-air into ash.
Up, up, flying higher.
Viserys took Sunblaze into the high heavens, feeling the dragon's excitement, the craving for flight and slaughter.
A distance away from the trebuchets, the Tyroshi Commander-in-Chief had set up a wooden table with fine food and the best Tyroshi brandy.
With wine and meat, watching this dragon-slaying battle was truly a fine thing.
"What is that?" The Tyroshi Commander-in-Chief raised his glass, watching the flowing gold in the sky consume the corpses meant for Viserysfort with living fire.
"It flies, it breathes fire. It's a dragon, my lord."
"Nonsense, how is that possible?" the Tyroshi Commander-in-Chief said unhappily.
But his subordinate looked mournful. High-flying, circling, and breathing fire—what else could it be but a dragon?
Viserys and Sunblaze suddenly emerged from the clouds, diving rapidly with folded wings.
Viserys smelled it—the scent of blood and fire.
Fire, bright and searing golden-red fireballs began to appear.
"Dracarys!" Viserys commanded. Surging dragonfire descended from the sky, instantly engulfing the forty-foot-high massive trebuchets.
The flames swirled and shifted. The trebuchets, made of massive logs, groaned as they were destroyed. The mercenaries who couldn't dodge became ghosts in the fire.
"My hair! My hair is burning!"
"My eyes!"
Soldiers let out miserable wails. The searing heat felt like molten iron as their hair caught fire.
The first one, the second one.
"Dragon! It's a dragon!"
"Fuck the Archon! Why didn't he tell us they had a dragon?"